Donald S. Bland, D.D.SAppointments: (910) 762-2811

Donald Bland D.D.S.

Donald S. Bland, D.D.S

Donald Bland, D.D.S. is proud to be a trusted Wilmington area Zoom!® teeth whitening dentist. Our patients love the short amount of time the tooth whitening treatment takes as much as they love the results.

You'll be able to relax in our comfortable surroundings. In just about an hour, you'll have a sparkling white smile!

At Donald S. Bland, D.D.S, we specialize in second opinions. Wilmington area dentist Donald Bland, D.D.S. encourages you to ask as many questions as you'd like about any aspect of a procedure that has been recommended to you by another dentist. Second opinions may even expand the number of options that may be available to you. Dr. Bland serves the city of Wilmington and the surrounding area in North Carolina.

Donald S. Bland, D.D.S is a trusted Wilmington area dental implants practice providing natural-looking, comfortable tooth replacement. We make it our mission to use a gentle touch during the process.

We hold ourselves to the highest standards to replace missing teeth and provide you with natural-looking results. Our goal is to restore your confidence and your bright, healthy smile.

Donald S. Bland, D.D.S is a trusted Wilmington area NTI-tss plus provider. Our highly-trained team fit you with a custom bite guard designed to relieve headaches and migraines caused by jaw clenching during sleep.

Each person is unique. Our experienced team will provide you with the individualized care you deserve for your situation.

Wilmington area cosmetic dentistry at Donald S. Bland, D.D.S can produce amazingly natural-looking results! You can have a bright, healthy new smile after just one or two sessions with Donald Bland, D.D.S.. It's faster and more affordable than you may think.

Corrective Oral Surgery

Corrective oral surgery (orthognathic surgery) moves teeth and jaws into a more balanced, functional and healthier position. Unequal growth of the jaws, birth defects or injury can create problems. Orthognathic means "straight jaws" and corrects a wide range of facial and jaw fractures and irregularities.

Its benefits include an improved ability to:

chew

breathe

speak

enhances appearance

When only the teeth are involved, orthodontics can correct many "bite" problems but it cannot reposition jaws. Corrective oral surgery is usually performed when needed in connection with orthodontics corrections. The orthodontist and oral surgeon work together in developing your specific treatment program. A complete evaluation of the patient's condition through X-rays, photographs, facial measurements and dental impressions help them determine the best course of therapy.

What Conditions May Indicate a Need for Corrective Oral Surgery?

Difficulty in chewing or swallowing

Speech problems

Chronic jaw pain

Excessive wearing of teeth

Facial injury or birth defects

Unbalanced facial appearance

Receding chin or protruding jaw

"Open bite" (a space remains between the upper and lower teeth when the mouth is closed)

What Are Preparations for the Oral Surgery?

Your orthodontist and oral surgeon will work closely together in preparation for your complete treatment program. First, pre-surgical orthodontics will move your teeth into a new position to fit together better after surgery. This means you'll be wearing braces for 6 to 18 months prior to the surgery. Your teeth will be carefully evaluated during orthodontic visits. When your dental correction team determines that your teeth are properly positioned, the surgery will be scheduled.

Where Is the Oral Surgery Performed? How Long Does It Last?

The surgery is performed in either a hospital or outpatient surgical center under general anesthesia which "puts you to sleep" during the operation. The length of surgery will depend upon the amount and type of surgery needed.

What About Any Facial Surgical Scars?

Since most incisions are made inside the mouth, no external scars are usually visible. If incisions are needed externally, the surgeon carefully conceals them in natural skin creases.

What Happens After Oral Surgery?

After surgery, you will experience some discomfort that is usually not significant; the pain can be controlled with medications. Your healing will take some time. Normally you can return to work or school within two weeks.

After four to eight weeks following surgery, your orthodontics treatment will continue to complete the proper positioning of your teeth. Usually your braces are removed within 6 to 12 months after surgery.

Following the removal of your braces, schedule an appointment with your dentist for a check-up. You'll have plenty to celebrate with all the benefits gained as a result of the corrective oral surgery.

By Brian J. Gray, DDS, MAGD, FICO

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.

Wisdom Teeth - When Push Comes To Shove in Your Child's Mouth

When a child's permanent teeth appear, there's usually some push going on, hopefully in the right direction. Although any tooth can jostle its neighbors, the teeth that have the worst reputation are our third molars -- our wisdom teeth. They're the last to come out and often shove other teeth out of their way.

Most mouths can't usually accommodate wisdom teeth, and they end up pressuring the rest of the teeth, disrupting their alignment. They can often cause pain and swelling.

Routine X-rays, done when a person's around age 12, give us early warning of problem molars and tell us whether they need to be extracted. Wisdom teeth, like troublesome neighbors, everyone's a lot happier when they've moved out!

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.